Steve Double, Member of Parliament for St Austell and Newquay has welcomed today’s news that adding to a fleet of new Intercity Express Trains due into service this Summer, GWR has today announced a scheme to modernise High Speed Trains (HSTs) to provide even more additional seats and services.
Work is already underway to convert former eight carriage HSTs (8+2) to four carriage (4+2) Class 43 Castle trains, to operate services between Exeter and Penzance, which will help double the frequency of services on the Cornish main line.
The work will see the sets made more accessible and modernised; decade old slam doors will be replaced with modern, automated, sliding doors; toilet retention tanks fitted and an improved passenger information system fitted.
Commenting, Steve said:
“This latest announcement is great news for the growing numbers of passengers who use rail services in Cornwall, both as part of a daily commute and to visit our beautiful county.”
“I welcome this news and will continue to work with GWR and all stakeholders both locally and in Westminster to ensure Cornwall gets the transport infrastructure we need.”
Commenting, GWR Commercial Development Director Matthew Golton said:
“These trains will replace smaller, less powerful trains on this part of the network; doubling the number of seats as part of our commitment to improving rolling stock across every part of our network.
“They will work alongside the new Intercity Express Trains due this summer; helping us to double the frequency of services to and from the South West and improve capacity on suburban commuter services.”
48 passenger carriages and 24 power cars are being updated, to make 11 sets, with four spare, as part of a wider national programme to modernise the High Speed Train.
The completed first train set is currently being tested in the south west and is expected to provide an Exeter to Penzance shuttle later this week, more than doubling the number of seats per train. (139 generic in 2 car 150 v 316 in a coach A to D HST).
With all modifications complete, the trains will also be extended to serve the route from Penzance to Cardiff, and to bolster peak time services between Gloucester and Taunton.